New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-03
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.
CURRENT NOTES AND ANECDOTES.

CURRENT NOTES AND ANECDOTES.
Professor F. L. Ritter of vsssar College. was -
New-York last Monday and o number OF his olf
friends caught furtve glmpses Of him as ne lodged
in and out Of the music shops During last year he
organized a system of musical study and exsmina-
tions. and ct commencement two weeks or so ago
vassar for the first time conferred diplomas on sweet
girl bachelors of music Professor Ritter says be has
followed the lead OF the English universtties In his
curriculum and examinations, and solemnly protests
that the Vassar musical degrees are not empty titles
hands with friend of the days when he was at the
head Of choral affairs in NewYork. As he walked on
after short chat he said to Q companion: twenty
years or so ago my friends wife was slight young
girl with peculiarly high and cleac soprano voice.
Youths part in Elijah picked her out fof
that part once, and learned something about the
vanity aud sel6shness of great singers Madame
Parepa Was 10 sing the soprano solos at perIorms
ance OF Mendelssohn's oratorio under my direction.
Taking 1t for granted that Parepa would not care
music to Miss @- and counted good deal on the
fine effect her bright youthful voice would mako In
the dialogue with Elijah. just before the concert
But, Madame, interposed. Il thought that you
would not to be burde ned by sucn minor part,
and hence gave 1t to one Of ny singers
"'Why, make one of my best ELECTS In that scene,
was the reply and shall sing it,
There was nothing to do but to carry the painful
to my voiced little soprano, who, naturally
enough burst into tears and would not be consoed IN
spite of the efforts OF her iriends AT last Rarepa
kissed her, and soon had tho CLOUDS disspated. But
In the performance it she and not my little
soprano who sang the Youths part
After the concert / asked her why she had not
permitted Miss to. make the trifing solo effort
'Ah, 1t she'd been an alto-yes, was her only reply
Ever since when hear the domnes 60 into eestao,es
thai scene and reply come back to me 'Ah. II she'd
been an altO-yes."
Talking about the Unhappy fnan ces of the National
Opera Company few evenings ago. Jacob Gosche.
the old and able manager who used to be called
Theodore Thomass Napoleon" and who q few months
ago joined forces with Mr. Thomas again after several
years OF estrsngement, said, with an air OF profound
conviction, that the deficit OF the National Opera
Company less than that OF the Metropolitan Com
pany last season and then discoursed sagely on the
great artistic service done BY the former company
and the power OF fashion illustrated Ia the Wiling
ness OF the Metropolitan stockholders to maintain
their expensive enterprise. Statements OF similar
character have appeared In some newspapers OF late,
aud it Is obvious that effort is making to discredis
the achievements OF the Metropolitan Company In
the interest of the National This is very short
sighted policy and az plan OF campaign it can only
damage the cause oil those who adopt It, The facte
concerning the financial results OF tho last Germsr
season have beea published. The receipts IRON all
sources were little less than 41 900; the dis
bursements about $442, 900. The deficit on this
showing, therefore, would seem to be about r3 wv
Bet IN this statement IL include the cost OF main
tanning tho Opera House tor twelve months, as also
the cost of permanent improvements amounting to
$4,000. The taxes and interest account alone
amounted to 500 600. or just double the deficit Ex-
penses tor twelve months are charged against tno
receipts of a season OF tour months ana Y39'oVo
derived from rentals. The stockholders paid IN
S75 900 on the annual assessment but Tor this they
had the use OF their boxes and simple calculation
shows that if the fixed charges on the building lwbicn
would have to be paid whether performances were
given uot), and the cost OF new properties aEu
repairs to be deducted the actual cost OF the
represent aons would be reduced to $500 per box or
for
necessary to add, however, that indspendent OF Az
explanations the statement OF M Gosche Is VIDE OF
the truth The National Opera Company owes more
than the deficit OF the Metropolitan season to hall
dozen OF its principal singers. to say nothing Of is
other debts.
There are many evidences that Mr.. Thomas does
not contemplate being connected witch the NationM
opera venture year. Last season the dates OF the
Philharmonic and Popular Concerts were liked Win
reference to the plans OF the opera company Tor next
season they already arranged HIS plane ior
concert tour also practically settled and ne has
the Cincinnati festival tor next May on his mind lie
has done the work OF halt dozen men during the
last twelve months, and has five weeks OF labor still
before him in Chicago 1t is said that tor next year
unpaid portion OF his salary from the National opera
Company he ha, accepted promissory notes.
aThe Chicsgo News, is responsible for the state
mer. (which reads like one of Eugene Fields jokes
that George p. Upton, of that city, and Theodore
Thomas have gone into double harness for the produc
ton of q ten y oume history of music in America.
The two authors ale work five years the history,
which is to contain among other engrayings a fac
sime of the hymn Of praise which old Father Lnigi
composed for Christopher ColomOos soldiers to sing
when they first landed the shores of the new
world"
likelier story is one that touches more intimately
on the musical future Of Chicago. Tue determination
of the metropolis to have a capable symphonic or
chestra has 6een growing for years, until now an
agent has been DISPATCHED to Germany to engage
conductor and sufficient number of good musicians
to make up al orchestra on the plan OF the Boston
Symphony Orchestra. The agent is Carl WoIfsohn,
the pianist 1t Is to be hoped that this report is true
Chicago Is large enough and rich enough to support
a series OF weekly symphony concerts. 1t has done
well in choral culture aud needs hghclass orchestra
OF it's own 1t is time that the seed by Theodore
Thomas should bear truit and Chicago soil should
guarantee noble crop
Teresina Tua, whose engagement for an American
tour announced few days ago by cable dispatch,
is to be managed by Herman Coell, the tobacco mcr-
chant who brought Rafael Josefy to this country.
Sue 10 exceedingly clever violin player and young
and handsome TO boot Her pretty and musical namo
is nom de theatre Apropos OF women violinists
1t 10 interesting to note that Miss Maud Powell. an
American, has made arrangea ents to extend her
won golden opinions when she PLAYED here the con.
certs of Mr. Thomas and the Philharmonic Society,
and in Boston at one of the Symphony Society con-
certs In October she will begin tour of the country
the management OF L. N. Ruben.
sCALY, ITCHY SKIN